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Carbuncle is a magical creature with healing powers that helps Noctis Lucis Caelum in Final Fantasy XV. It appears as a companion in Platinum Demo – Final Fantasy XV, leading young Noctis through his dreamscape. Upon completion of the demo, the player can name the Carbuncle and it appears in the full game with the name the player gave it. It is a Messenger, a magical creature sent by the gods. Though the other known Messengers help the Oracle and make the gods' will known to mankind, Carbuncle is a guardian being to Noctis.

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Carbuncle is based on a recurring summon from the Final Fantasy series. Its incarnation in Final Fantasy XV resembles a fennec fox with its large ears and small snout. It has pale blue fur, brown eyes, and a puffy tail. There's a horn made of ruby on its forehead. Though it appears small and fragile, Carbuncle has potent healing powers.

King Regis gifted the Carbuncle totem to a three-year-old Noctis.[1] When the eight-year-old Noctis was attacked by an imperial Marilith he was badly hurt and fell into a coma. While he recuperates his father places the totem next to the unconscious Noctis. Carbuncle appears to Noctis in a dream world of his making, and communicates with him through a smartphone. Carbuncle explains Noctis is sleeping and being prevented from waking up by a force that wants his demise, but promises to help Noctis find a way out of the dream.

The young Noctis follows Carbuncle through a forest path and a room full of toys and other objects while in a shrunken state. Carbuncle helps Noctis fight the monsters that appear in his dream, and, finding their way to the Citadel, an Iron Giant appears. Noctis transforms into an adult and fights the Iron Giant with his full power while Carbuncle helps him by reviving him if he falls in battle. After the Iron Giant is felled Carbuncle leads Noctis to the Regalia, Regis's car and a place Noctis associates with safety and being with his father. Carbuncle tells Noctis its name and disappears as Noctis awakens, while promising to be with him and help him.

Noctis awakens with the Carbuncle doll on his pillow.

When Noctis awakens his father is by his side and the Carbuncle doll is next to him. Carbuncle is a magical creature and a Messenger that guides him that others cannot see. In Final Fantasy XV Prologue Parting Ways that depicts the day before Noctis's scheduled departure, Noctis makes sure to take the Carbuncle figurine with him to "keep them safe on the road".

Carbuncle acts as the player's guide. The player must follow it to get to the next area while the various game mechanics are being explained. Carbuncle will revive the player if they fall in battle, so the player can't get Game Over in the demo. Completing the demo lets the player name Carbuncle.

Carbuncle hosts the tutorial the player is advised to take before starting a new game.

In Easy Mode Carbuncle appears when Noctis is downed in battle to significantly increase his attack and defense and completely heal the party. Carbuncle can appear in both dungeons and the open world, once per battle. He can also randomly appear in the background of photos taken by Prompto.

The player can get a Carbuncle-themed body paint for the Regalia. It is bought from JM Market in Altissia. Its description says: "A custom decal set featuring everyone's favorite Messenger. Guaranteed to make your car 150% more adorable." This is the only part of the game where Carbuncle is named a Messenger. The A Little Friend sticker also depicts Carbuncle.

In the free holiday DLC Noctis visited a carnival in Altissia with Carbuncle, who followed him through the various attractions. After accumulating enough medals, the player could attend the fireworks show with Carbuncle.

[view·edit·purge]Carbuncle was a mythical creature reportedly sighted in the Americas by Spanish conquistadors. It is described as a small creature, either a bird or a mammal, that has a gem in its forehead crystallized from the brain of a dead dragon. According to myth, it is good luck to catch a carbuncle. A carbuncle is also an archaic name given to any red cabochon cut gemstone. The name applied particularly to red garnet.

The crystallized dragon's blood from the mythology was said to cure any disease. Carbuncle in the Bible is a red precious gemstone said to be more radiant than a ruby, seen on the priestly breastplate of the High Priest of the Israelis in the Book of Exodus. The breastplate adorned with gems was said to represent God's will by His intervention regarding earthly affairs. Within magic lore regarding carbuncles and other red gems, they were believed to have powers to protect against bodily injury and drowning.

"Carbuncle surprise" was a promotional campaign the player could partake in by pre-ordering the game.

When the Carbuncle was being photographed at the Moogle Chocobo Carnival and Noctis started parroting catch phrases from Prompto, he sometimes said he is "serving Prompto realness", a reference to the film Paris is Burning and the TV series RuPaul'sDrag Race.